Floor pad



H. A. THIERRY Dec. 8, 1931.

FLOOR PAD Filed NOV. 29, 1929 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

idetented @ec. 8,, 21931 srrns ears HERMAN A. TEIEBRY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN rnoon ran Application filed November 29, 1929. Serial No. 410,384.

This invention relates to a floor pad and has to do particularly with a pa/d'which af fords a degree of resiliency yet one which will not hold or confine dirt or dust, and

which is of a construction that will not unduly mar or soil articles which come in contact with it.

The invention is concerned particularly with a mat which is useful in a pit at the end of a bowling alley. Of course, the invention is not limited to a mat to be used in this loca-' tion only, as the construction may be employed in any place desired as for example, runners behind counters, or fountains, or used adjacent machines or the like.

In order that the advantages of the mat may be better understood, it will be described with respect to the requirements of a mat in a bowling alley pit. The pins and the balls, which are relatively heavy, strike the floor of the pit with considerable impact and of course some sort of a mat or pad is necessary to preserve the pins and balls, and also to preserve the floor which would become splintered and in turn further damage the pins and balls, A rubber mat has been used but this is undesirable because a pin which slides across it receives a mark. Furthermore, particles of dust and grit readily collect and this grinds into the wooden pins and balls. Mats of fabric construction such as inter-woven strands of rope-like material or the like or cocoa mats have been used,but they not only wear out quickly but also collect the dust and grit which in turn soils the pin which is 1mdesirable and results in that the pin has to be cleaned and re-finishe'd at short intervals of time.

, The present invention contemplates a mat 40 construction which comprises generally spaced strips of relatively flexible material which are supportedby resilient elements.

The mat accordingly is more or less of an open work construction which will afford the 45 desired resiliency but which will permit particles of dirt and grit to pass through.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mat constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a mat having a part cut away to show the construction.

The mat is made up of a plurality of relatively long strips of material which are disposed in spaced relation and which preferably are parallel. These strips may be of different materials depending upon the requirements of the use to which a particular mat is to be used. Cushioning devices support these strips and these devices essentially are relatively long lengths of a material of a resilient nature disposed in spaced relation and extending cross-Wise or substantially cross-wise of the first mentioned strips. Ordinarily the two sets of strips will be disposed at right angles to each other. The two sets of strips are adjoined preferably at each point of crossing.

The specific structure will be appreciated by reference to the drawings wherein strips 1 are shown, and it will be noted that the mat comprises a plurality of these strips disposed in spaced manner. The resilient supporting elements are preferably of rubber. These elements are also preferably in the form of long lengths or strips and are disposed at right angles, preferably, to the strips 1. They are illustrated at 2. An advantageous form-for the supporting strips is that of a curved or substantially semi-circular or U-shape in cross section. The legs of the U as illustrated at 3 and 4 are designed to contact with the supporting floor while the upper-most strips are connected to the supporting strips substantially at the bight portion thereof. The strips may be secured together by one or more rivets 5.

When a mat of this construction is to be used for example in a pit at the end of a bowling alley, it is preferable that the strips 1 be of fiber. Strips which are approximately 1 inches wide by of an inch in thickness have been found quite satisfactory. The mat protects the floor but due to its open construction allows all dirt and grit, etc., to pass through onto the supporting floor. Accordingly the pins do not become soiled as readily as they do with a mat which collects and retains the dirt. Moreover objectional marks are not placed on the pins as they slide over the fiber strips. The fiber strips are adapted to contact withafloor,said legs relatively strong so that there is no breakage adapted to spread under load and the sal in the event of a pin or ball striking heavily elements beings aced apart sufliciently to on a strip between two supporting members. permit of free an independent spreading of The semi-circular or U-shaped formation the legs of each element. of the supporting elements render consider- 3. A floor mat comprising a plurahty of able resiliency to the mat as weight applied spaced strips disposed substantlally parallel, thereto causes the legs of the U-portion to a plurality of rubber supporting elements bend with the bight portionof the U moving substantia 1y U-shaped in cross sectlon disdownwardly,and, inaway flattening out the posed in widely spaced relation as regards U. The construction is nicely adapted for their cross sectional dimension and substanuse as runners or the like where persons are tially at right angles to the stri s and with standing or walking. In this event the strips the U inverted so that the ends 0 the legs are 1 may be of wood in place of fiber although adapted to contact with the floor, and means fiber is preferred for the bowling alley pit connecting the strips and supporting elebecause it is not so liable to break and splinments at the points where the st ips and eleter under impact of pins or balls. ments cross.

Obviously, the mat can be made up in any 4. A floor mat comprising a plurality of desired size. and for example may be long spaced strips disposed substantially parallel, and narrow in the event the mat is to be used a plurality of rubber supporting elements as a runner'behind a counter or the like. substantially U-shaped in cross section dis- The fiber or other strips may run lengthwise posed in relatively widely spaced relation or cross-wise as regards the length of the mat whereby each element is entirely independent although it is thought to be preferred that .of the other and substantially at right angles they run lengthwise. The semi-circular to the strip and with the U inverted, and shaped supporting elements may be of solid means connecting the strips and supporting rubber formation While also they may have elements at the points where the strips and one or more layers of fabric embedded in elements cross, said means connecting the the rubber. Supporting elements having a strips to the bight portion of the inverted U curvature based on an interior diameter of so that the weight on the mat tends to flatten about 7 of an inch have been found to give the U. satlsfactory results. This of course may 5. A floor mat comprising a plurality of vary. The supporting strips, While advanfiber strips disposed in spaced and substantageously are of U-shapein cross section, tially parallel manner, a plurality of rubber may be constructed of different forms. supporting elements of strip like form dis- 0 When the U-shapeis used the ends of the posed in relatively widely spaced substanlegs of the U frict onally grip the floor so tially parallel manner and at substantially that when weight is on the mat the bight right angles to the strips, the spacing being portlon ls'bent downwardly but the legs are such that each element is entirely free of not spread apart at the floor in any appreinterference from the other elements, said ciable degree. However, the resilient supsupporting members being substantially U- porting elements may be of tubular formashaped in cross section and disposed with the tlon or solid blocks of rubber or the like. U inverted whereby the legs of the U are lillms! adapted to contact with the floor, and means 1. A floor mat comprising a plurality of connecting the strips to the bight portions separate spaced strips, a plurality of separate of the supporting elements. resilient supporting elements substantially Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature.

semi-circular in cross section disposed in HERMAN AQTHIERRY. spaced relation and extending at substantially right angles to the strips, the strips and supporting elements being secured together at the points of crossing, said supportin elements flexing transversely under loa and being spaced apart suflic-ientlyto permit of independent flexing of each element.

2. A floor mat comprising a plurality of spaced strips, a plurality of spaced support.-

ing elements disposed substantially at right angles to the strips, said supporting elements being formed of flexible material and substantially U-shaped in cross section, said supporting strips being positioned so that the U is inverted and being secured at their bight portions to the said strips at the point of crossing and with the ends 'of their legs 

